By Devon Cormier
Staff Writer

Voters will be looking at a warrant article in May asking for $1.5 million for renovations at the old Hooksett Village School building in order to use it for town offices.

NO ROOM TO MOVE – The halls at the current Hooksett Town Hall have turned into storage space for the many files that need to be kept. More space is needed as soon as possible, said Town Administrator Moni Sharma. (File Photo)

Town councilors voted Jan. 26 to put the warrant article on the ballot after deciding against another article that would have asked for less money for architectural and engineering studies.

The proposed renovations will include a new sprinkler system and smoke detectors, a new heating and ventilation system, air conditioners for some rooms, updated light fixtures, asbestos and lead paint removal and additional parking in front of the building, as well as changes to the structure of the building for office space.

Except for building-wide improvements like the sprinkler system, the renovations will only be done to the half of the building targeted for the town hall offices.

A proposed community center will take up about half of the 40,000 square feet available. The Community Economic Development Corporation of Hooksett is handling the details and chairman Dawn Stanhope said fundraising will pay for most of the community center renovations. However, the town just can’t wait that long.

“It is very important we move in soon,” said Town Administrator Moni Sharma. “Also, I think people would have the advantage of having the town hall and the other (community groups) in the same building.”

The town hall has become extremely crowded in the past few years. Documents spill out of cabinets and off of desks in every department. If the warrant article asking for $1.5 million passes, town hall workers can look forward to more space within the next year.

The $1.5 million would be bonded, Stanhope said. A 10-year bond would cost a taxpayer with a $300,000 home about $57 the first year, and the amount would go down each year after that.

“I mean, $57 per household, it’s money but it’s not huge amounts,” said Stanhope. “Part of the whole contract is looking at the benefits to the community. This is a great opportunity for people and I hope they see it as that.”

The sprinkler system is expensive, but necessary for public gatherings. All in all, Stanhope said, the building is in great shape.

The numbers for the community center are not quite ready yet, but Stanhope said CED-COH hopes to have them by the deliberative session of Town Meeting in April. CEDCOH plans to figure out which groups would go where and how the space would be used as well.

The warrant article councilors decided to keep off the ballot asked for $100,000 for engineering and architectural work. After the council heard input from CEDCOH members and the public, they decided the article would be virtually useless in getting the town offices moved in a timely manner.

“People would take the lesser amount,” said Stanhope. “It just wasn’t in our best interest because it doesn’t even come close to getting them in there.”

Stanhope and Sharma said they are hopeful the warrant article will pass. Voters showed overwhelming support for transferring the land from the school department to the town last year.